Disability Confident Workshop shows local businesses how to enhance skills and talent with a more diverse workforce

This month, the Business Inspiration Project at Bishop Grosseteste University hosted a Disability Confident workshop in Louth to help local businesses boost their skills and talent by recruiting and retaining staff with disabilities and people with health conditions.

Over 50 representatives from Lincolnshire-based businesses attended the workshop, with representatives from JobCentre Plus, the Shaw Trust, Linkage College, Russon Consultancy Ltd and a range of local businesses from a number of industry sectors.

Research undertaken by the Business Inspiration Project found that businesses are still unclear of what a difference an employment opportunity can make to somebody living with a disability, and how their skills can have a significant impact, particularly in a small business.

The workshop aimed to challenge the current perceptions and mindset of taking on disabled employees, with talks from local businesses who have benefitted from doing just that. Information was also provided on becoming an accredited Disability Confident Employer, together with advice from the Access to Work scheme, which included details of the financial assistance available to support individual employees.

Grahame Killey, Project Manager of the Business Inspiration programme, said “We were delighted to see such a positive response from local businesses in their pursuit of being fully inclusive with employment opportunities and accommodating a more diverse range of employees who can have a real impact in their business.”

If you would like to hear more information on becoming a Disability Confident employer, please contact julie.fisher@bishopg.ac.uk or visit https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/disability-confident-campaign

The Business Inspiration Project is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.